Having exhausted my knowledge and abilities in diagnosing injection problems, I turned the car over to Herr Fuchs last week while I was out of town. His mission was to get it to pass the emissions test, and get the rough idle to smooth out.

After much diagnosis, HF recommended replacing the fuel distributor. He found #1 and #8 to be weak and felt that it "acted" more like fuel distributor than injector problems. He gave me a great deal on a rebuilt unit and agreed to take it back if it did not fix the problem.

With the new unit on, he was able to get the lambda cycling properly in closed loop, and felt that the car was running "much better." So off it went for the smog test, failing yet again. Barely off on HC, but substantially off on NOx. But, the new FD qualified the car for a waiver, so it is now licensed and can be driven legally.

When I picked the car up, I immediately noticed smoother acceleration and more power. The miss at idle is still there but not as bad. HF's recommendation was to replace the idle air tubes and the injector seals, and then consider injectors if the problem persists.

HF also felt that the euro cams and higher compression of the euro block were the problem with emissions. If so, it's worth it. The car REALLY pulls above 5000 RPM.

So, I have turned my attention to other areas. First up is getting some heat. First problem was easy to find. The infamous ACC servo was completely hosed. The case had cracked, and coolant had leaked into the motor and servo assembly, turning them into a large mass of green corrosion. Currently waiting on a rebuilt unit from George Murphy, who is the man to see about this system.

Stay tuned ...

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe

Well, at least you got the waiver.

I wonder how replacing the FD (fuel distributor?) got you the waiver.

I've been following your attempt to pass the smog test for a while now, and I admire your tenacity. I have to apologize but I can't remember which car it is. It's the 380 SL, right?

What caused you to rebuild the engine and install the euro cam and euro block?

How much HP do you have now, and how much over stock is it?

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Likely the waiver is based in $$$ spent trying to fix the problem. CA has the same deal, except it is only a temporary waiver nowadays, 2 years max I think.

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Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Yes, it's the '81 SL.

The FD qualified the car for a waiver because it alone was $700, and the limit is $460.

The car arrived with an engine that had been condemned by a MB dealer, suspected diagnosis was a cracked piston. About the same time, a euro motor appeared on e-bay (for $275 delivered), needing only cams.

So it seemed logical to swap the motors, especially since the original still had the single chain. Then by chance I found a set of replacement cams (euro) and assorted gear from a guy named Davide Frada, who lives in Australia who hangs out on the mercedes-veterans board.

The irony of all this is that the orginal engine was basically OK. The noise and loss of compression was caused by a completely destroyed rocker that was causing the #5 intake valve not to open (no air, no compression).

SteveB now has the rocker in his trophy case.

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe

You may have to switch back to US cams to pass the NOX -- the euro cams have different overlap and duration (and give more power at the expense of dirty emissions).

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!